Injuries have done an absolute number on fantasy football so far this year as plenty of players have missed multiple weeks (or will miss the rest of the year). Especially at the wide receiver position, injuries have ravaged many superstars that drafters were targeting this offseason, making this dynasty trade advice piece all the more important.
If you happen to have any of the following five players on your roster, your WR (and RB) spot has absolutely taken a beating this year. Obviously they will hold down a spot on your injury reserve for the rest of the season, but what trade advice should you be looking for involving these players?
Let’s take a look at what you should do for each of these five players and if you should look to acquire them, hold while they recover, or trade them away to salvage any value you can.
Playoff Targets | Dynasty Trade Advice
Nico Collins | Hamstring
Date Injured: October 6, 2024 | Expected Return: November 17, 2024
The first of two players who are returning this season, Nico Collins, has one more week on the shelf before he should be making his return in Week 11. Nursing a hamstring injury, Collins headlines our dynasty trade advice targets, as he is in line for a huge workload upon his return.
With Stefon Diggs on IR, Tank Dell jumps up to the WR2 role for the rest of the season, which will be a big-time audition to see if he is capable of filling a huge role in the Houston offense.
Collins is slated to return against the Dallas Cowboys with the Tennessee Titans, and Jacksonville Jaguars before hitting their Week 14 bye. Most of these matchups are advantageous for Collins, making him a player you should absolutely target.
If you are looking for trade advice, Collins was recently moved in these following deals:
- Collins for Tee Higgins & Michael Pittman Jr.
- Collins for DeVonta Smith & ‘25 2nd
- Collins for Kyle Pitts & ‘25 2nd
The jury remains out on how Collins will look when he returns, but as the proven top target for C.J. Stroud, his target share will absolutely justify you making a move. Investing in the 25-year-old Collins for the stretch run is what helps set good teams apart from great teams. If you think you have a shot at the ‘ship, Collins should be your top target.
Isiah Pacheco | Fibula
Date Injured: September 15, 2024 | Expected Return: Late November 2024
Isiah Pacheco has been on the shelf since mid-September with a fibula injury. With his original return timeline putting him back on the field sometime in November, this is the time where you should be looking to acquire Pacheco.
If you are looking for trade advice, Pacheco was recently moved in these following deals:
- Pacheco & Godwin for Higgins
- Pacheco & ‘25 2nd for Kenneth Walker III
- Pacheco for Stevenson
Pacheco is a unique player in this article, as he should be a target for you, but also can be used to tier up at the running back position. Regardless of what path you take, Pacheco holds the kind of rest-of-season value that can turn into a league winner.
Acquire for 2025 | Dynasty Trade Advice
Rashee Rice | LCL | Hamstring
Date Injured: September 29, 2024 | Expected Return: Week 1, 2025 NFL Season
Having filled the role of WR1 for Patrick Mahomes, the sky was the limit for Rashee Rice in 2024 – and then he suffered a season-ending knee injury in September. With Rice now watching the rest of the season from the sidelines, our dynasty trade advice is that this is the perfect time to acquire him.
Rice earned 29 targets in his first 3 full games of the 2024 campaign, putting up at least 5 receptions in every contest. With the remainder of the Chiefs skill players getting older—and a depth chart barren of any young talent outside of Xavier Worthy—Rice’s role is very safe next season.
If you are looking for trade advice, Rice was recently moved in these following deals:
- Rice for Evan Engram & Amari Cooper
- Rice for Kareem Hunt, Keenan Allen, Juju Smith-Schuster & 2025 3rd
- Rice for DJ Moore & 2025 2nd
It really depends on your current situation, but Rice is probably the best player to target in this entire article. His ceiling, combined with his proven history in the Chiefs offense, paints a very optimistic picture for next season and beyond.
A word of caution though – Rice still has his pending traffic violation that needs resolution, which could cloudy his 2025 season. That shouldn’t be something that detracts from acquiring him, but is something to be aware of.
Brandon Aiyuk | Torn ACL & MCL
Date Injured: October 20, 2024 | Expected Return: November 2025
Brandon Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL & MCL in San Francisco’s Week 7 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs, knocking him out for the remainder of this year. Having had a rollercoaster of an offseason, Aiyuk at least has some stability moving forward, as he is locked into a four-year deal with the Niners.
Aiyuk’s role in Kyle Shanahan’s offense is a high-output one, as Aiyuk forms one of the league’s best WR duos alongside Deebo Samuel. Samuel’s contract expires after the 2025 season, meaning that Aiyuk could have no competition as the top wideout moving forward.
While his production post-knee injury could be slower, he looks to be in line for a full workload next season. With an average ACL recovery timeline of anywhere between nine months and a year, Aiyuk likely won’t be ready for the start of the 2025 NFL season, but should be at full speed come November 1st.
If you are looking for trade advice, Aiyuk recently was moved in these following deals (DynastyGM):
- Aiyuk for Amari Cooper & 2025 4th
- Aiyuk and Trey Benson for 2025 1st & 2nd
- Aiyuk for Baker Mayfield & 2025 1st
- Aiyuk for Rashee Rice
Buy the injury dip for Aiyuk and go out and trade for the San Francisco WR, who probably won’t be back until the middle part of next season. If your roster is built to move pieces to get him but sit on his production, then take our dynasty trade advice and make a move for Aiyuk.
Chris Godwin | Dislocated Ankle
Date Injured: October 21, 2024 | Expected Return: Week 1, 2025 NFL Season
On a record pace through the first seven weeks, Chris Godwin finds himself in our trade advice article after suffering a season-ending dislocated ankle. Having gone down in the same game that Mike Evans left with a hamstring injury, Godwin now faces a long offseason of recovery as he also hits free agency.
Finishing out his current three-year deal, the 28-year-old Godwin has to overcome his second major injury after tearing his ACL back in December 2021. While knocked out for the rest of the year, Godwin is on track to be ready for Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season, making him a trade-for target.
Trade advice would typically say to stay away from a player on the wrong side of 28, but slot receivers typically have longer lifespans for dynasty football. Plus, Godwin has been one of the most consistent wideouts in the league, and even if he leaves Tampa Bay, his ceiling is still high.
If you are looking for trade advice, Godwin recently was moved in these following deals:
- Godwin & 2025 2nd for Tee Higgins
- Godwin & 2026 2nd for George Kittle & 2026 3rd
- Godwin for Dontayvion Wicks & Khalil Shakir
- Godwin for Ja’Lynn Polk & 2025 1st
Even if he returns to the Buccaneers and teams up with Evans again, he still has plenty of standalone WR2 value (he was the overall WR1 before getting hurt), making him a strong candidate to acquire this offseason.
Trade Away | Dynasty Trade Advice
Stefon Diggs | Torn ACL
Date Injured: October 27, 2024 | Expected Return: November 2025
The newest addition to our dynasty trade advice list is Diggs, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury in Houston’s Week 8 win over the Indianapolis Colts. With the Texans dealing with both Collins and Diggs out, Tank Dell has a great opportunity to step into the WR1 role for at least one week.
Diggs enters a long recovery period with a ton of uncertainty, as his offseason trade to Houston came with the rest of his contract being wiped out, making him a free agent this offseason. Recovering from a season-ending injury for 30-year-old Diggs is not going to be an easy thing to do, which absolutely dampens his dynasty value.
If you are looking for trade advice, Diggs was recently moved in these following deals:
- Diggs for a ‘25 1st
- Diggs for ‘25 2nd & ‘26 3rd
- Diggs & Alvin Kamara for Xavier Worthy, Troy Franklin & Jaleel McLaughlin
- Diggs, ‘25 1st & ‘25 3rd for Brian Thomas Jr. & ‘25 2nd
While you should look to move on from Diggs, that isn’t to say his value has completely hit the basement. Our DynastyNerds community has shown that even though Diggs is 30-years old and heading into an offseason of uncertainty, many in the dynasty football community want to acquire him.
If Diggs can help you get younger at the WR position or is a chip in a deal that helps you tier up with some picks, do what you can to move him. With all signs pointing to Diggs not being healthy enough to play a full season next year, any value you can get for him now before timelines are established is key.
Rashid Shaheed | Meniscus
Date Injured: October 13, 2024 | Expected Return: Week 1, 2025 NFL Season
The poster child of Best Ball leagues, Rashid Shaheed unfortunately won’t be stepping on the field for the rest of the year after having his meniscus repaired. The New Orleans Saints will miss Shaheed’s field-splitting abilities, and the offensive struggles this season have shown how important he was – but our dynasty trade advice isn’t all that rosy.
While Shaheed faces a shorter recovery than most on this list, it is tough to want to invest in the Saints offense. There have been plenty of concerns surrounding Chris Olave and his long-term outlook with all of the QB concerns, and that discussion now includes Shaheed’s future value.
If you are looking for trade advice, Shaheed was recently moved in these following deals:
- Shaheed & Godwin for Tyreek Hill
- Shaheed, ‘25 1st & 2026 1st for Davante Adams, ‘25 3rd & ‘26 3rd
- Shaheed for Chase Brown
While he doesn’t have a ton of value, it’s hard to see Shaheed’s dynasty value increasing enough to justify holding onto him. Even if it feels like you’re moving him at slightly below-market value, don’t be opposed to the deal, as the Saints offense doesn’t project to be a big-time help for his fantasy value in ‘25.
If you are someone who clutches their draft picks, you aren’t alone. But when it comes to dynasty trade advice, if your pick isn’t projected as a top-four selection, you should look to move the pick (if you are contending). It’s the idea that you know what you are acquiring, versus the uncertainty of a mid-to-late first rounder, that drives this decision.
You can check out the value of rookie draft picks in our marquee Podcast episode:
